Indigenous Peoples in the Community

As part of its mission, Université de Montréal is committed to improving the representation, welcome, and integration of Indigenous Peoples within the university. Our duty to memory begins with recognizing Indigenous territory.

Services for Indigenous students

Resources to help ensure your success.

SALON UATIK

This is the perfect gathering space and starting point for your efforts.

The Salon Uatik (den in Innu) is a space reserved for Indigenous students, except when certain events open to the broader community are held. It is a space for meetings, activities, relaxing, and working, which cultivates socializing, networking and successful integration to the Université de Montréal community.

SERVICES

FUNDING YOUR EDUCATION

Université de Montréal compiles a directory of scholarships. Some are exclusively for Indigenous students, such as the Prix Claude-Kistabish and the Bourses Mary Two-Axe Early.

You can query the search engine, selecting the criteria that apply to you. The list and data included in the directory are constantly being updated, so check back regularly! Visit the Bourses d’Études (Scholarships) website.

Our integrated approach is based on the needs of students. Professionals are available to support you in your efforts, from admission to graduation.

INDIGENOUS BACK-TO-SCHOOL

Every fall, our team organizes back-to-school activities for incoming Indigenous students. They are designed to help new students get around campus, meet other Indigenous students and understand everything they need to know and the resources available to start school on the right foot.

SUPPORT FOR YOUR SUCCESS

Peer support

Do you need help with French to improve your study skills? You can get support from the Salon Uatik team. If you have more targeted or broader needs, you will receive support and a referral to services that can help. These services are available upon request.

The benefits of self-identification

Voluntary self-identification enables Université de Montréal to ensure that services available to Indigenous students meet your needs and expectations. This information helps us adapt our communications to reach you more easily, whether to introduce services or to propose financial support to foster your academic success.

Student life

Interest groups have developed over the years, driven by students who want to get involved to make a difference to Indigenous communities. Here are just some of them.

CERCLE OK8API

This association’s mission is to bring Indigenous populations and the Université de Montréal community closer together to combat prejudices about and discrimination toward Indigenous people, to promote the integration of Indigenous students to university life and to encourage reciprocal sharing of knowledge and cultures. Follow it on Facebook.

INDIGENOUS LAW COMMITTEE

This Université de Montréal Faculty of Law committee raises awareness about issues related to Canadian Indigenous law. Follow it on Facebook.

The GISA is made up of students in health and social services programs at Université de Montréal. It makes future professionals aware of Indigenous cultures and their health issues and promotes community involvement and practices. Visit its website or follow its activities on Facebook.

Working at UdeM

Université de Montréal advocates equity and inclusion to create an environment where students and employees can use their talent and have a positive impact on society.

Inclusiveness at the heart of our efforts

Université de Montréal is a place for inclusive learning, where everyone’s contribution gets the attention it deserves. We want to help build bridges between Indigenous Peoples and their fellow citizens in Montréal, Québec and Canada.

Beyond the law

Université de Montréal is subject to an Act Respecting Equal Access to Employment in Public Bodies and must introduce measures to ensure equitable representation of social groups historically disadvantaged in their access to employment.

UdeM is convinced of the value of diversity and is therefore committed to going beyond applicable laws to start a dialogue with Indigenous Peoples to attract, hire and integrate them to the university community.

Build your career with us

Université de Montréal offers plenty of opportunities for employment in areas ranging from administration, teaching and research, the technical and trade sector, to more specialized professions. To consult the job offers and apply, visit the Carrières (Careers) website.

When you submit your application, we encourage you to identify yourself as a member of an Indigenous community, so we can pay particular attention to it.

Succeeding together

Université de Montréal believes in consultation and building lasting relationships, which is why it develops close ties with the different players in Indigenous communities. To reaffirm our commitment, in the coming months we will be adding a specialized resource in Indigenous relations to our team. This will allow us to increase the Université de Montréal’s presence in different communities and work with them to foster their cultural, social and economic development.

Sharing cultures

Mitig Indigenous Week

The word Mitig refers to a tree and its roots. UdeM’s Mitig week has been taking place near the end of September since 2015. The main goal of this week of activities, organized by the Salon Uatik in cooperation with Ok8api, is to make the university community aware of Indigenous cultures.

Ethnographic Collection

The ethnographic collection has close to 3800 objects from five continents. You can do a targeted search to discover fascinating objects from North American Indigenous communities. This rich collection, put together through field research and private donations, demonstrates the way of life of groups that lived in a range of environments. Available to the university community, it is an educational and scientific training tool that is also regularly used for temporary exhibitions.

An action plan

Since fall 2016, professors, students, employees and members of Indigenous Peoples have been engaged in a major initiative of reflection and joint Indigenous and non-Indigenous consultations to identify the founding values, principles and areas of activity that could guide Université de Montréal’s efforts on Indigenous issues.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

In 2016, a working group, made up of professors, employees and students, including members of Indigenous Peoples, was formed to submit recommendations to improve the intake and experience of First Nations, Métis and Inuit students at Université de Montréal. Its work led to the creation and March 26, 2018 adoption of the Declaration of Recognition of Indigenous Territories.

Université de Montréal began planning and implementing another phase of this initiative, now with a broader mission of equity, diversity and inclusion.

The reflection process that grew out of a consultation table and a joint Indigenous and non-Indigenous drafting group in 2018 and 2019 identified the founding values, principles and areas of activity guiding the action plan that will be implemented at Université de Montréal in 2020.

AREAS OF ACTIVITY

Recognition and governance

Listing principles of recognition and commitment in official documents and events, ensuring representation on different bodies and valuing identity and symbolic recognition in planning on campus.

Student recruitment, retention, support and success

Developing programs, agreements, partnerships, tutoring, information and support initiatives for Indigenous students for recruitment, retention and success at every step in their education.

Employee recruitment and support

Developing resources and opportunities that promote the recruitment and training of Indigenous teaching and non-teaching employees and the integration of Indigenous expertise.

Training

Enriching training programs and offering awareness-raising activities about Indigenous realities, knowledge and cultures, working with Indigenous communities and experts.

Research and knowledge sharing

Supporting research projects on Indigenous issues, implementing strategies to integrate Indigenous perspectives to research and valuing collaborative research with, by and for Indigenous communities.

Partnerships and services to the community

Supporting collaborative initiatives to respond to problems that are of interest to Indigenous communities and for people living outside of reserves, and supporting their cultural and socioeconomic vitality.

FOUNDING VALUES

Respect

To understand, recognize, value and celebrate the contribution of members of Indigenous Peoples as agents of change and enrichment for human, natural, cultural and intangible environments.

Affirmation

To create the conditions for the recognition and fulfillment of members of Indigenous Peoples at Université de Montréal and within Indigenous communities in interventions and research by its representatives.

Openness

To support initiatives that promote dialogue with members of Indigenous Peoples and the inclusion of their knowledge, cultures, beliefs and practices.

Reciprocity

To introduce and cultivate collaborations at all levels with members of Indigenous Peoples based on exchanges and reciprocal sharing rooted in trust that aim for equity, emulation and mutual enrichment.

SHARE YOUR IDEAS !

Are you a member of the university community, a member of an Indigenous community or simply interested in Indigenous issues that relate to the Université de Montréal’s mission of teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and do you want to share your ideas? Send us your suggestions using this form.

MAJOR PRINCIPLES

Appreciation

To know and recognize Indigenous knowledge, cultures and practices and make them part of teaching and research programs in a spirit of enrichment.

Accessibility

To increase access to Université de Montréal for members of Indigenous Peoples by offering them a stimulating, welcoming and respectful place to learn and work.

Visibility

To foster multiple expressions of Indigenous identities and cultures among Indigenous Peoples at Université de Montréal.

Representation

To increase the representation of members of Indigenous Peoples in Université de Montréal’s different areas of activity.

Flexibility

To offer an institutional environment that takes into account the needs of Indigenous students and staff.

Share your ideas!

Are you a member of the university community, a member of an Indigenous community or simply interested in Indigenous issues that relate to the Université de Montréal’s mission of teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and do you want to share your ideas? Send us your suggestions using this form.

Building together

I used a pattern from moccasins and traditional clothing. I wanted to create a sense of opening, a flower that blooms and grows. There is a spirit of openness and a sense of taking flight. The four colours are the medicine wheel of different nations. We are all moving toward the same goal, which is the sun and the sky. We all have the same mission.

Graphic designer Terry Awashish, participant in joint Indigenous and non-Indigenous consultations, expresses the vision that grew from the consultations through a symbolic representation.